Don Muraco

Oct 14, 2009 - by Jamie Cruickshank

Photo credit: World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

Photo credit: World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

Real name: Don Muraco
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 270 lbs.
Date of birth: September 10, 1949
From: Sunset Beach, HI
Pro debut: 1970
Trained by: Ray Stevens & Ivan Koloff
Finishing move: Piledriver

Biography

– On February 18, 1975, Muraco & Robert Fuller defeated Ron Garvin & Roger Kirby to win the NWA Macon Tag Team Titles
– On May 2, 1975, Muraco won a tournament to win the vacant NWA Americas Heavyweight Title
– On March 24, 1976, Muraco & Invader #1 defeated Pat Patterson & Pedro Morales to win the NWA San Francisco Tag Team Titles
– On April 1, 1978, Muraco defeated Dean Ho to win the NWA San Francisco United States Title
– In September 1978, Muraco defeated Big John Studd to win the NWA Pacific International Title
– On March 26, 1980, Muraco defeated Manny Fernandez to win the NWA Florida Heavyweight Title
– In February 1981, Muraco joined the WWF
– In May 1981, Muraco defeated Manny Fernandez to win the NWA Florida Television Title
– In June 1981, Muraco began wrestling as ‘The Magnificent Muraco’
– On June 20, 1981, Muraco defeated Pedro Morales to win the WWF Intercontinental Title
– On June 27, 1981, Muraco defeated SD Jones to retain the WWF Intercontinental Title
– On August 22, 1981, Muraco defeated Rick Martel to retain the WWF Intercontinental Title
– On September 19, 1981, Muraco defeated Pat Patterson to retain the WWF Intercontinental Title
– On November 7, 1981, Muraco defeated Bob Backlund by countout in a Champion vs Champion Match (Backlund was the reigning WWF Champion)
– In 1982, Muraco briefly left the WWF, but was back before the end of the year
– On January 22, 1983, Muraco again defeated Pedro Morales to regain the WWF Intercontinental Title
– On February 12, 1983, Muraco defeated Bob Backlund to retain the WWF Intercontinental Title
– On February 26, 1983, Muraco defeated Chief Jay Strongbow to retain the WWF Intercontinental Title
– On May 29, 1983, Muraco defeated Rocky Johnson to retain the WWF Intercontinental Title
– On September 10, 1983, Muraco defeated Jimmy Snuka to retain the WWF Intercontinental Title
– On November 6, 1983, Muraco defeated Tony Atlas to retain the WWF Intercontinental Title
– On July 8, 1985, Muraco won the first WWF King of the Ring tournament, defeating The Iron Sheik in the final
– In late-1987, Muraco acquired Billy Graham as manager, and changed his ring name to ‘The Rock’ Don Muraco
– On February 19, 1988, Muraco won a Bunkhouse Battle Royal
– In October 1988, Muraco was released by the WWF
– On December 9, 1988, Muraco defeated Makhan Singh to win the Stampede North American Heavyweight Title
– On September 30, 1992, Muraco defeated Jimmy Snuka to win the NWA-ECW Heavyweight Title
– On October 2, 1992, Muraco defeated Nikolai Volkoff to retain the NWA-ECW Heavyweight Title
– On April 3, 1993, Muraco defeated The Sandman to regain the NWA-ECW Heavyweight Title
– On May 14, 1993, Muraco defeated Tommy Cairo to retain the NWA-ECW Heavyweight Title
– At Slamboree 1993, Muraco made his only WCW appearance, teaming with Dick Murdoch & Jimmy Snuka in a no-contest draw against Blackjack Mulligan, Jim Brunzell & Wahoo McDaniel
– On November 16, 1996, Muraco inducted Jimmy Snuka into the then-WWF Hall of Fame
– In February 2003, Muraco founded Hawai’i Championship Wrestling, operating it until 2008
– On March 13, 2004, Muraco was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Mick Foley
– On August 27, 2005, Muraco came out of retirement for one night only, teaming with his son Joe in a win over Bob & Brad Armstrong
– Muraco was voted into the GERWECK.NET Hall of Fame on September 1, 2016


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